San Fran kicks Seattle’s (trash) can

By contrast, Seattle recycles or composts about 44 percent of its garbage.

City consultants recently said Seattle’s official goal of hitting 60 percent by 2010 was too optimistic, saying 55 percent or 57 percent was more likely. Still, with an ambitious package of rules and services, the city could hit the 72 percent figure by 2025, consultants said.

Last year, City Councilman Richard Conlin pushed through legislation aimed at reducing city waste. Eventually, Mayor Greg Nickels got on board. Now, Seattleites may soon be able to compost meat and dairy products in their yard waste bins. Also, they won’t have to separate glass from other recyclables.

UPDATE: Nickels’ office attributes some of the difference to the fact San Francisco and Seattle use different formulas to calculate their recycling rates. Primarily, Seattle doesn’t include recycled construction waste, said Nickels’ spokesman Marty McOmber. “We’re looking at how we incorporate that in our numbers, which will make them a lot stronger,” McOmber said.